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(NEW) Live streaming via RTMP (using OBS)
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(NEW) Live streaming via RTMP (using OBS)
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Shoplive supports live streaming via RTMP. You can stream using any RTMP-based software for PC or Mac, such as OBS or XSplit. This guide uses OBS as the reference.
Installing OBS
OBS Studio Official Website — download and install the latest version for your operating system.
OBS Auto-Configuration Wizard
When launching OBS for the first time, the Auto-Configuration Wizard will appear. Close the wizard and configure settings manually by following the steps below.
Network Check
For a stable stream, a wired (Ethernet) connection is strongly recommended. Wi-Fi may cause frame drops due to momentary signal loss.
Check upload speed: Streaming at 1080p (5,400 Kbps) uses approximately 5.6 Mbps including audio overhead. For stability, ensure a measured upload speed of 8 Mbps or more.
Use a tool such as fast.com to measure the upload speed of your streaming PC beforehand.
If upload speed is below 8 Mbps, lower the bitrate or stream at 720p (see "OBS Settings" below).
OBS Settings
Open Settings and configure the following sections in order.
Video
Configure under Settings → Video.
OBS Setting | Portrait (9:16) | Landscape (16:9) |
|---|---|---|
Base (Canvas) Resolution | 1080 × 1920 | 1920 × 1080 |
Output (Scaled) Resolution | 1080 × 1920 | 1920 × 1080 |
Common FPS Values | 30 | 30 |
Set Base Resolution = Output Resolution so no output scaling is applied. (When both values match, OBS displays "No rescaling".)
Shoplive defaults to portrait (1080×1920). If upload speed is limited, lower to 720×1280 (use a bitrate of 2,500–3,000 Kbps in that case).
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Audio
OBS Setting | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
Sample Rate | 48 kHz |
Channels | Stereo |
Audio Bitrate (Track 1) | 160 Kbps (128–192 acceptable, codec: AAC) |
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Output
Under Settings → Output, set Output Mode to "Advanced", then configure the following values in the "Streaming" sub-tab. (Keyframe interval and other advanced options are not available in Simple mode.)
OBS Setting | Recommended Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Audio Track | 1 | Track 1 = full mix (default) |
Video Encoder | Hardware preferred (NVENC / QuickSync / Apple VideoToolbox); use x264 if unavailable | See per-encoder presets below |
Rescale Output | Disabled (unchecked) | Stream at the original video resolution |
Rate Control | CBR | Always use CBR for live streaming |
Bitrate | 5,400 Kbps (1080p) / 2,500–3,000 (720p) | Recommended max: 6,000 |
Keyframe Interval | 1 second | The Shoplive streaming server processes video based on a 1-second keyframe interval. Other values, including 0 (auto), are not supported. |
Bitrate Cap
At 1080p / 30fps, increasing the bitrate beyond 6,000 Kbps provides minimal quality improvement. 6,000 Kbps is the recommended maximum.
Keyframe Interval Must Be 1 Second
The Shoplive streaming server processes video based on a 1-second keyframe interval. Any other value, including 0 (auto), will not be processed correctly. Switch to Advanced output mode and enter the keyframe interval as 1 directly. (Simple mode does not allow manual keyframe input.)
Recommended values by encoder
Hardware encoders (GPU) are preferred as they reduce CPU load and produce a more stable stream. Use x264 (software) only when no hardware encoder is available.
Encoder | Preset | Notes |
|---|---|---|
NVIDIA NVENC | P5–P6 (Quality) | |
Intel QuickSync | TU4 (Balanced) | |
Apple (VideoToolbox) | — | macOS. Rate Control must be set to CBR. |
x264 (Software) | veryfast (superfast if CPU performance is limited) | Not recommended if CPU headroom is limited. |
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Entering Stream Information
After creating a campaign, go to the Shoplive Admin → Campaign Detail page to find the Stream URL and Stream Key for that campaign. Enter both values into OBS.
About Stream URL and Stream Key
The Stream URL and Stream Key are unique values generated per campaign. Always verify these values for the specific campaign before going live. Keep the Stream Key confidential and do not share it externally.
Under Settings → Stream tab, enter the following:
Service: Select "Custom…"
Server: Enter the Stream URL from the Admin page
Stream Key: Enter the Stream Key from the Admin page
Click "OK"
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Auto-Reconnect Settings
Configure OBS to automatically reconnect if the network drops momentarily. Find this under Settings → Stream tab → "Reconnect" section at the bottom.
OBS Setting | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
Enable Auto-Reconnect | Enabled (checked) |
Retry Delay | 2–5 seconds |
Starting and Verifying the Stream
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Set up your Scene(s) and Sources (camera, screen capture, etc.) in OBS.
Click Start Streaming in the bottom-right corner of OBS.
Check the preview in the Shoplive Admin to confirm the video feed is being received correctly.
Open "View → Docks → Stats" to monitor stream health. Dropped Frames % should be close to 0%; Rendering Lag and Encoding Lag indicate GPU/CPU overload.
Troubleshooting
Symptom | Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
Connection failure (failed to connect socket, failed: -2) | Incorrect Stream URL or Stream Key, or values copied from a different campaign | Re-verify the Stream URL and Stream Key from the Admin page (check for leading/trailing spaces or typos). If the values are correct and the issue persists, contact your Shoplive representative. |
No video in Admin (OBS shows no active stream) | Start Streaming was not clicked | Confirm that you clicked Start Streaming in the bottom-right of OBS. |
No video in Admin (OBS shows stream as active) | Keyframe interval is not set to 1 second | Verify that the keyframe interval in Output settings is set to exactly 1 second. |
No audio | Audio device or volume issue | Check the OBS Audio Mixer for muted tracks, volume levels, and whether the correct microphone/audio device is selected. |
Increasing Dropped Frames | Insufficient upload bandwidth | Lower the bitrate / switch to a wired connection / downgrade to 720p (2,500–3,000 Kbps) / enable Auto-Reconnect |
OBS "Encoding Overloaded" warning | CPU overload | Switch to a hardware encoder / change preset to superfast / lower resolution or FPS |
Video appears cropped or cut off | Incorrect canvas aspect ratio | Under Video settings, match Base Resolution to Output Resolution (portrait: 1080×1920). |
Cannot change settings while streaming | Settings are locked while streaming | Stop the stream, apply changes, then restart streaming. |
Appendix — Quick Reference
Item | Recommended Value |
|---|---|
Rate Control | CBR |
Bitrate | 1080p: 5,400 Kbps (max 6,000) / 720p: 2,500–3,000 |
Keyframe Interval | 1 second (required by Shoplive server; 0 (auto) and other values are not supported) |
Encoder | Hardware preferred (NVENC / QuickSync / Apple); x264 veryfast as fallback |
Resolution | 1080×1920 (default) / 720×1280 (fallback), 30fps |
Audio | AAC 48kHz Stereo 160 Kbps (128–192) |
Auto-Reconnect | Enabled (retry delay: 2–5 seconds) |
Stream tab (actual values issued from Admin) | Service = Custom / Server = Stream URL / Stream Key = Stream Key |
Sending OBS Logs
If you experience issues during a stream, sharing the OBS log file with your Shoplive representative allows for quick analysis of encoder settings, dropped frames, and connection drops.
From the OBS menu bar, go to Help → Log Files.
Click Upload Current Log File if streaming is in progress, or Upload Last Log File immediately after the stream ends.
Once the upload completes, a URL in the format https://obsproject.com/logs/… will appear. Copy this URL and send it to your Shoplive representative.
Upload the log immediately after the issue occurs
For accurate analysis, upload the log right after the problematic stream. Restarting OBS may cause the log for that session to be lost.